Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Friday USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program. The United States Department of Agriculture remains ...

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McPhersonSentinel - McPherson, KS

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Posted Apr. 2, 2013 at 2:35 PM
Updated Apr 2, 2013 at 2:37 PM

Posted Apr. 2, 2013 at 2:35 PM
Updated Apr 2, 2013 at 2:37 PM

Washington

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Friday USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program. The United States Department of Agriculture remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

"The Obama Administration continues its commitment to help our nation become more energy independent by partnering with agricultural producers and rural small businesses as they build renewable energy systems and reduce energy usage," Vilsack said. "These investments will not only help our farmers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs, but also provide a new potential revenue source and stabilize their operations' bottom lines.”

Rural Energy for America Program, authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, (Farm Bill) is designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and help meet the Nation's critical energy needs. USDA is accepting the following applications:

Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications until April 30

Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan only applications until July 15

Renewable energy system feasibility study grant applications through April 30

More information on how to apply for funding is available in the March 29 Federal Register, pages 19183-19190.

Since the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill and through the end of Fiscal Year 2012, Rural Energy for America Program has funded nationwide more than 6,800 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, feasibility studies, energy audits, and renewable energy development assistance projects.

Examples include Edaleen Cow Power LLC, located near Lynden, Washington, which received a Rural Energy for America Program loan and grant combination to install an anaerobic digester and sell the resulting electricity to a utility. The project is anticipated to generate 4,635 Megawatt hours per year. Manure produced by Edaleen Dairy's 2,450-head herd is the sole feedstock for the project and the dairy benefits from the bedding byproduct the digester produces. Also, in Augusta, Wisconsin, farmer Matthew Gabler received a grant to assist in installation of an 11 kilowatt wind turbine to produce about 29,000 kilowatt-hours a year for his farm.

This funding is an example of the many ways USDA is helping revitalize rural economies to create opportunities for growth and prosperity, support innovative technologies, identify new markets for agricultural producers, and better utilization of our nation's natural resources.

The Obama Administration is working to promote domestic production of renewable energy to create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, combat global warming, and build a stronger rural economy. The president's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the president's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns, and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values.